Making extra cash each month is a sure way to increase your savings rate or help pay down your debt. Utilizing a few of these methods and side hustles can bring in hundreds to thousands extra each month!
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1. Get Cash Back on Everything You Buy
I utilize cashback programs like Ebates (for online shopping) and Ibotta (for in-store shopping). You get cash back anytime you buy something, and both Ebates & Ibotta even give you $10 for trying them out if you sign up through these links (Use code HQLCTLT to get your Ibotta bonus.).
Already have Ebates? I recommend checking out TopCashBack as well because they often have higher cash back rates for certain online stores. I use both services & always check which one has the best rate for the site I’m shopping with.
On top of this, I use my cashback Discover It Card to get even more money back. This card gives you 5% on revolving categories and 1% on everything else. I usually earn hundreds each year. At the end of your first year, they’ll even match your year’s cashback total. Plus, you’ll get an extra $50 for applying through this link!
Freeee money!
2. Make Money Off Your Savings
Interest rates are so important, but most people don’t even pay attention to them. Savings accounts usually pay around a .01%, but high yield savings accounts pay more than 1% which is over 100 times more. This is the difference between earning $50 in interest per year and earning $5,000! Keep your emergency funds and savings for short term goals in an account that makes at least 1% interest
. I recommend online banks
because they are able to offer superior rates due to their low overhead compared to brick and mortar banks. I use a CIT Bank
savings account with an online bank, and it is able to grow month over month with 1.55%
compared to my old .01% rate. If you want to earn even more interest, stash some funds in their short term CD earning 1.85%.
3. A Survey a Day
I visit survey sites just about every day to make a few extra bucks. Many short surveys pay $1-2, and this can really add up! My absolute favorite survey sites are:
1. PaidViewpoint
2. Swagbucks
3. PrizeRebel
See More: 6 Easy Ways to Make Money Online
4. Start a Blog
I regularly make over $1,000 a month blogging with my fairly new blogs. It’s a fun side hustle if you love writing and social media. I know several bloggers whose blog earnings surpassed the six figure incomes from their day jobs. Here’s a step by step tutorial to set up your own blog and begin making money.
5. Become a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker
Sign up with Rover.com to become a pet sitter, house sitter, or dog walker in your area. Rover allows you to choose your own schedule, services offered, and rates. Many sitters and walkers can earn $1,000 or more per month.
Who wouldn’t want to get paid to hang out with dogs??
6. Get Paid to Watch Videos & Search the Internet
Swagbucks is a one-stop shop for making extra cash. You can use it to earn cash back on your online purchases, get paid for completing surveys, and earn money from watching videos and doing internet searches. You can easily earn several dollars from your Swagbucks account each day. Plus, they start you off with a $10 welcome bonus just for trying them out!
7. Index Investing
Investing is a scary word, but it’s an absolute must to growing your wealth and obtaining financial freedom. While a few savings accounts out there can give you 1% interest, index investing returns about 9% on average (this average includes major economic downturns like the 2008 recession). The fees are low, and they outperform the high fee actively managed mutual funds. Hold on to this money long term because this is one of the most tried and true methods of achieving financial freedom.
See More: 6 Easy Ways to Earn Extra Cash Each Month (No side hustle required!)
8. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Depending on your location, you can make $10-15 per hour driving for Uber or Lyft. These platforms allow you to make your own schedule and turns your car into a profitable side hustle. Perks include bonuses, discounts for your cell phone plan, and discounted fuel and vehicle maintenance.
9. Sell things you don’t need anymore
Purge! Take advantage of Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook sales groups to get rid of things you don’t use anymore. I cleaned out my closet recently and made a few hundred dollars by taking my old clothes to a resale shop.
10. Get paid to write articles
Many sites pay people just like you to write articles on a huge variety of topics. Payment ranges from $30 to several hundred dollars. These sites currently pay contributors for articles:
• BookBrowse
• Cracked
• CraftBits
• College Humor
• Cooking Detective
• Curbly
• Dorkly
• A Fine Parent
• Freelance Mom
• Income Diary
• JustParents
• Knitty
• Listverse
• Money Crashers
• MoneyPantry
• Parent.co
• RankPay
• Refinery29
• SitePoint
• StorkGuide
• The Dollar Stretcher
• The Sportster
• Transitions Abroad
